Public Participation in Environmental Decision Making Yaocan Sun December 14, 2007 Taizhou EPB, China Taizhou city Outline Recognize the role of public participation in environmental decision making Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems Continuously improve public participation in EIAs Strive to create a new environment for public participation The role of public participation in environmental decision making 1 Legal Requirements for public participation in environmental decision making Three types of rights for public according to law: right to information, right to participation, and right to monitor Public participation is an important component of environmental decision making The environmental decision making is from the public, for the public and rely on the public From depend Relationship Public service Enviro. decision The role of public participation in environmental decision making 2 Government has the role to promote, protect and actualize the rights of the public EPB has the responsibility to organize and coordinate, facilitate, and monitor the public participation in environmental decision making public can participate the whole process of environmental decision making including: planning, EIA, permitting, construction, daily operation, review and evaluation. The role of public participation in environmental decision making Public reporting Complains Public hearing Roundtable dialogues Public participation in EIA Media supervision Environmental inspector Environmental volunteer Environmental quality disclosure Corporate environmental information disclosure EPB The role of public participation in environmental decision making Ten mechanisms Public hotline Hotline interaction Cyber dialogue Mailbox of mayor or EPB director Four platforms EPB The role of public participation in environmental decision making Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems Ways to engage public to participate in important and complex environmental problems 1 Hold public hearings on environmental complains 2 Hold information exchanges and round table dialogues Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems 1 Public hearings on environmental complains Procedure: Enviro. Complains EPBPublic participationconsensusEnviro. decision Case: public hearing on Tangren Group Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems 2 information exchanges and roundtable dialogues Gov., enterprises, and the public have one platform to address environmental problems. Procedure Information releaseEnviro. problemPublic ParticipationEnviro. Decision Information exchanges and roundtable dialogue in Dainan Township Actively explore and practice public participation to solve environmental problems Regulations and practices for public participation in EIA 1 Laws and Regulations EIA Law Measures for public participation in EIAs 2 Cases Strategic Environmental Assessment on Water supply in Taizhou Planning for water supply EIA report Public Participation Conclusion of EIA Enviro. Decision Disclosure Regulations and practices for public participation in EIA Regulations and practices for public participation in EIA Drinking water source protection area Strive to create a new environment for public participation 1 Further promote information disclosure, and expand public participation Through various means such as TV, newspaper, internet, public hearings, workshops, press releases, to guarantee the public rights to access to information 2 Establish long-term mechanisms to ensure public participation establish working mechanisms for public participation, experts consultations, and sound decision making. 3 Strengthen education and communication to encourage public participation Conduct environmental education programs, create incentives to reward public participation Welcome to Taizhou!